Foster Cunliffe

Who was Foster Cunliffe?

Sir Foster Hugh Egerton Cunliffe, 6th Baronet was an English historian and cricketer who played first class cricket for Oxford University from 1895 to 1898, for Middlesex from 1897 to 1903 and for MCC from 1899 to 1903. He was killed serving in World War I.

Cunliffe was born in Belgravia, Westminster, the son of Sir Robert Cunliffe, 5th Baronet of Acton Park, Denbighshire and his wife Eleanor Sophia Egerton Leigh daughter of Egerton Leigh. He was educated Eton College and at New College, Oxford and played cricket for the university from 1895 to 1898. In 1897 he made his debut for Middlesex and in 1899 began playing for MCC.

Cunliffe was a left-hand batsman and played 85 innings in 56 first class matches with an average of 15.36 and a top score of 70. He was a left-arm medium pace bowler and took 235 first class wickets with an average of 21.78 and a best performance of 8 for 26.

Cunliffe became a Fellow of All Souls, Oxford and a lecturer in history at Oxford University and wrote The History of the Boer War. He inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father in 1905.

During World War I, Cunliffe served with the 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade and reached the rank of major. He died of wounds at Ovilliers La Boiselle, France. He was buried at Bapaume Post Military Cemetery, Albert, Somme.